AUTO TECH: A trip to the auto repair shop can feel like visiting
another planet for some motorists — they do not understand the
language, and are unfamiliar with the terrain. However, AAA says a
trip to the repair shop can be much easier — and less stressful —
by selecting a quality facility and learning to speak “auto
tech.”

When communicating with an automotive technician, AAA recommends
motorists do the following:

· Before taking the vehicle to a repair facility, write down
notes on the vehicle’s symptoms and performance so important
information is not overlooked or forgotten. Include any
observations, even if they seem silly or irrelevant.

· Describe the symptoms to the technician rather than solutions.
Explain what has been seen, smelled, heard and felt while driving
the vehicle. For example, does it vibrate or pull to the left?
Explain under what type of driving conditions the problems takes
place and how long ago it started.

· Try to be precise. Such as explaining a rattle under the hood
starts at 40 mph or an issue occurs only on cold days after the
engine has been running for 10 minutes.

· When describing symptoms, refer to the driver side and
passenger side instead of the right or left side of the
vehicle.

· Resist the temptation to use technical jargon unless
absolutely sure what it means. Explain what is being experienced in
terms that do not direct the technician to a single solution. This
will help eliminate unnecessary or ineffective work being performed
due to  misinterpretation or misdiagnosis.

· If the vehicle has been serviced recently, bring copies of the
previous repair orders rather than trying to explain what work was
done.

Finally, when you get the bill, the AAA urges you to protect
yourself from unexpected charges or unneeded repairs by reading
over the bill, and questioning any charges that are not clear.
Insist on descriptions of parts, not just the serial numbers, be
listed on the final invoice. In some cases, motorists might want to
specify in advance that the shop will show them the parts that are
to be removed and replaced on the vehicle.